Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-03-08
RAIL LINE TO THE SEA.
PROGRESS OF THE SAVANNAH
AND TYBEE RAILWAY.

We" bOaru OF Directors EIecteu-Ihe
Road to be Completed and in Opera
ton by May l..
The annual meeting Of stockholders of
the Savannah and Tybee Railway Com
pany was held at Metropolitan Hall yes
terday morning. six thousand shares
are the capital stock Of the COM
pany and 5,429 shares were represented.
Capt. Henry Blum was made chairman
OF the meeting ana q. II. Dorset was
elected Secretary. President ID. G.. Purse
submitted his annual report and also the
} report OF the Chief Engineer. In review
Ing the history Of the enterprise Capt.
Purse said:
Inc value and importance Of railroad con-
nectlon with Tybee Island first TOOK shape in
charter granted about thirty Years ago, but
no further steps were taken to secure IL,
though the subject has been frequently dis
cussed at various periods since. Its supposed
cost, because trayerslng so much marsh land,
seems 70 nave been the CHIEF cause deterrlng
those favorlng 1t from undertaking Its con-
structlon, though no complete survey had
ever been made on any line between the city
ana the island TO ascertain the exact charac-
ter OF the country to be traversed in order to
reach an estimate of cost.
Thus matters stood in 1885. when the writer
purchased Tybee Island, and realizing the
| necessity for better mode of communca alton
| between the city and the island than by
steam boat. engaged the services of Capt.
John Postell, prominent railroad engineer,
10 make thorough preliminary survey for
| the best route for railroad from the city to
| Tybee to connect with railroad already built
| upon the island.
| The work was commenced upon the survey
In June OF 1855 and concluded in August fol-
| lowing, and so satisfactory were its results
that 1t was decided TO apply to the Legisla-
ture, soon to meet. for q charter which was
! q. January
| lions were begun looking TO the construction
| OF the railroad under the charter. These
NEGOTIATIONS were continued until June,
when a favorable proposition having been
submitted for construction of railroad by Mr..
| Thomas Il. lnness, of New YORK, organization
under the charter was begun and perfected
| on July Is and the proposition of MIR, Inness
| was formally accepted, who broke
! ground on Aug. in the pres
ence OF the stockholders and invited
guests on Deptford plantation, and the work
has continued without intermission to this
date under the supervision of Capt. John Pos
tell, chlet engineer of the company, The con-
tract with Mr.. inne:s providesfor the delivery
OF the railroad to the company on April
prox., in perfect order and frst-class condi-
ton, ready for immediate operation, but the
progress OF the work at this date does not
permit the possibility Of an earlier delivery
than May l.
For more detailed account OF the con-
struction and present approach to COM
pleteness of the road the President re-
ferred to the Chief Engineers report.
The location OF the company's depot
| will be at Randolph and
President streets. and embraces
about six acres of land. 1t
is not yet certain, the President stated,
whether the property can be
utilized this year for depot
purposes. and in event that it cannot be
used, terminal facilities will probably
be secured by arrangements with the
Savannah, Florida and Western rail.
way.
the indications for business, when the
company is In position to ask for it, are
as tiattering as the most ardent could wish
and the President, in concluding his
report, congratulated those who have
given OF their means and moral support
TO the enterprise upon the fair prospect
| of it's early completion and success.
Chief Engineer Postell In his report
gives the condition of the road at the pres
emit time, Out of about 226 900 yards of
grading to be done 156, 500 have been com.
pleted, leaving 20, III yards yet to be fin
ished. OF this 30, 900 yards is OF clay n the
lower end OF McQueen's island, $4,000
yards Is the sand topping to be put on
during the laying OF the track;
6,A0 yards below the Sa-
vannah, Florida and Western
wharf tracks and Randolph street, and
1881 in cuts at Lawton's hill and Caus-
toms bluff. All the piles and lumber for
the trestling and bridge piers at Laza-
retto creek are Oh the ground, and the piles
for the foundations are driven. The work
OF framing and putting on the super.
structure is now being don Q.
A portion of the lumber for
trestles and bridge piers at Will
mlngton river is delivered, and
the piles will be driven as soon as the
81 H.. g.. l.
Causton's bluff will be put in as soon as
the track reaches it, so that the material
can be carried down. the track laying
has begun and will be carried forward
rapidly from now on. Fifteen hundred
cross-ties and about five miles of
rails and fastenings are now
here. The draw bridges for Will
mington river and Lazaretto creek, which
were ordered some time ago, but were de-
layed, are expected here every day, and
their erection will be a matter OF only a
short time.
In concluding his report the Chief
Engineer referred to the many unlocked
for difficulties which the contractor, Mr..
Inness, has encountered. The class of
material handled, the difficulty III
gaining access to the line,
part, on Underwater marshes and crossed
boats and barges, both for furnishing his
men with food, water and fuel, and trans
porting them to and from work, and the
trouble experienced in maintaining
force of men adequate for a rapid prose-
cutiOn OF the work, having to quarter
them on the marshes, which, even In dry
weather, possess no elements of comfort,
and in wet weather the discomforts OF
which required constant pluck and per-
severance to endure.
81 can see no reason" he added, "why
the long wished-for connection between
Savannah and its charming sea shore
should not be realized at an early
day"
Upon motion the reports OF the Presi-
dent and Engineer were received.
The last Board of Directors was unani-
mously reelected, as follows:
ID. q. Purse, S. =. Hamilton,
Henry Blum, j. Z. Rowland,
Herman Myers, j. II. Estill,
j. j. McDonough.
After some Informal talk in regard to
the future OF the road the meeting ad-
jOurned.
CRIMINALS SENTENCED.
The City Courts Contribution to
the ChaIn-Gang.
Ia tba Cftv Court vaotardav In or;,,,f